Somaliland: Mo Farah Endorses Female British-Somali MP Hopeful

Amina Ali gains support of popular Somali-born British Olympic champion in fierce selection campaign taking place in Harrow East this month

By: Juliana Lucas

Somalilandsun – A WOMAN hoping to become Britain’s first female MP of Somali heritage has received the backing of Team GB’s golden Olympic hero Mo Farah.

Amina Ali, founder of the Labour Friends of Somali who is battling with Helen Dennis and Uma Kumaan to become Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) in Harrow East, received a “well done and carry on” from the Olympic champion.

The long distance runner who holds the European record for the 10,000m might have moved to the United States for better sport training but his support for Ali shows the popular athlete is still interested in current affairs at home.

Ali believes that Farah, who was born in Somali but raised in London from the age of 8, threw his support behind her campaign in order to help get other Somalis in the UK more involved in politics.

“He was quite encouraged that I am British Somali and I was getting involved in politics,” Ali told The Voice.

Members of the Labour party in Harrow East will decide this month (Nov 16) whether to select Ali, Dennis or Kumaan as their representative for the next general election which will take place in 2015.

But Ali who has already received a major boost with the support from the long distance runner could also benefit from the rising BME population in the area.

Recent data shows that 3.5 per cent of people that reside in Harrow East are Black African, many of which many are Somalis.

Ali who had previous intentions of standing in Brent Central – currently held by outgoing Liberal Democrat Sarah Teather – hopes the Somali community would come out to vote.

“I like getting communities to get involved in politics. I want them to know that they have power to [bring] change,” she said.

The MP hopeful encouraged members to nominate her, and added: “I hope the people of Harrow East will select somebody that has the background and vision to win.

“I hope they select me because I have the experience. I have a lot to offer. I have good experience having worked as a researcher for Tony Benn. I know how Parliament works [and] I can work in a diverse setting.”